I was planning on running this at subtier 1-2, but it has a 3-4 version. You are borderline. I think 3-4 is a more interesting version of this scenario, but 1-2 isn't bad either. Playing 3-4 could very well be deadly with half the table at level 1, but ultimately the decision is yours.

I know it would be exciting to have the rewards from playing up, but I have heard that the level 3-4 encounters can be a little challenging for characters in that Tier. I am concerned that there will be character deaths if we do it, especially with three level 1 characters. (Unless someone has a level 3-4 character to switch out for?)

GM, do you think we will be able to handle the encounters reasonably with this group? I assume you can tell by reading it if we will be totally hosed.

I'm looking through it now. There are some scenarios where playing up is still a breeze for a lower level party. I don't think this is one of them. If you play up be prepared to work your asses off for a victory. The static damage I'll be throwing around with certain monsters (before die rolls are factored in) will be enough to make things dangerous- potential PC death dangerous.

Btw- bravo to this group for having the knowledge skills to get the background info. I feel like it always makes the scenario much better when I can feed in little bits of info about the world and flesh it out.

I thought I'd succeeded, but I'm not sure. Her intent was to make it easier for you all to hit. I can see why it might not drop the longsword, if it's all part of the statue. I can also see why the GM might rule the grappled statue still does longsword-scale damage even while punching with small stone fists.

Being grappled does not prevent you from attacking or even making a full attack with a weapon. It gives you a -2 to hit and a -2 AC through a dex penalty. It DOES prevent you from attacking with a two handed weapon, but long swords only require one hand. I only described it as an attack with the fists for a better scene.

prd wrote:

Grappled: A grappled creature is restrained by a creature, trap, or effect. Grappled creatures cannot move and take a –4 penalty to Dexterity. A grappled creature takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls and combat maneuver checks, except those made to grapple or escape a grapple. In addition, grappled creatures can take no action that requires two hands to perform. A grappled character who attempts to cast a spell or use a spell-like ability must make a concentration check (DC 10 + grappler's CMB + spell level), or lose the spell. Grappled creatures cannot make attacks of opportunity.

I had thought that if she had maintained the grapple and transitioned into a pin on the second round it would be unable to attack, but it looks like even then it would be able to continue attacking. Pin more or less shuts down casters, but not so much with melee fighters.

The red outlines indicate grappling, but the statue is also very busted up at this point.

Huh. I'm looking more into grappling since it hasn't come up too much in games I've run.

prd wrote:

Unless otherwise noted, performing a combat maneuver provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of the maneuver. If you are hit by the target, you take the damage normally and apply that amount as a penalty to the attack roll to perform the maneuver.

I'd never noticed that part before. So with a -6 on Noamuth's grapple check she only had 13 and never would have successfully initiated the grapple. Ah well. Learning as we go.

But- I think I read the pinned condition wrong this morning. I believe it is meant to restrict you to only the actions described in the condition. That prevents weapon attacks. It doesn't make any sense that it would be impossible to make somatic gestures or use material components but you could still use a longsword while pinned.

If you look under the Pinned condition, you can’t do much of anything. You may attempt to break the pin, or you can attempt to cast a spell with a concentration check as long as it does not have a Somatic component, which most spells do. You may not attack, move, or really do anything else.

If your action in combat hinges on what others do in combat, then use this thread to discuss it. A real table would discuss strategy when it is important, there is no reason why a virtual table should not do the same.

Grapple changed a fair bit from 3.5 to PF. I'm pretty sure that was one of the changes.

EDIT:

3.5

SRD wrote:

You can make an attack with an unarmed strike, natural weapon, or light weapon against another character you are grappling. You take a -4 penalty on such attacks.

PF

PRD wrote:

A grappled creature takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls and combat maneuver checks, except those made to grapple or escape a grapple. In addition, grappled creatures can take no action that requires two hands to perform.

That's true. It isn't to be trusted. But if I had been rolling 3d6 to break every weapon that hit it and the most hardness any (nonmagical) weapon has is 10, I probably would have broken everyone's primary weapon within a couple rounds.

I'm slow sometimes, but I am reliable. You don't have to worry about that. I ran the other pbp for a couple of years and have been playing in a couple here for five years straight.

I am having an unfun period of work though right now. Working Saturdays and unpredictable hours any particular day. More than a few days this week have been work, home in time to put the baby to bed, dinner and then bed. Last night I fell asleep with a laptop on my chest trying to catch up :P